TFIOS: Alternative Ending

Chapter 1

I have decided to never take Gus' bracelet off. Its just a stretchy wristband that says 'hope', but i like it, because he gave it to me when i needed it most. He never really explained why, but we were sitting in my backyard and I was crying, and he just slipped it around my wrist.

I got about forty pages into An Imperial Affliction before i realized how exhausted i was and decided to go to bed, of course, with the bracelet on.

*****

When i wake up in the morning, the air feels cooler. I want to just go back to bed, but for some odd reason i cant. I look down at Gus' bracelet for comfort and i feel the exact opposite. Im not wearing Gus' bracelet. Instead, it is replaced with a hospital band. My clothes have been turned into a hospital gown instead of my t-shirt and jeans. I look around to see the white colored walls i have grown to know so well. The TV is on but muted, the cool air was coming from the AC, and my dad is sleeping in the forest green chair next to the door.

I sit up and reach over to get my glass of water to refresh my dry tongue. It feels like i haven't moved in months and i immediately drop the glass. My dad jumps up, obviously alarmed by the shattering glass, and just stares at me in awe. Before i can say anything, tears start to well up in his eyes as he runs to my bed. He hugs me tighter than anyone has before and I, being utterly confused, place my hands on his back. He runs out of the door and screams "Shes awake! Shes awake!" over and over again. As I look around and try to figure out what is going on, a stampede of nurses, doctors, friends, and what looks to be the entire town, bursts through the door. One by one, they come up and hug me- my mother being the longest and most meaningful- until my father sees the uncomfortable look on my face and lets the nurse know something is wrong. She orders everyone out of the room except for my mother and father. I wonder why Gus isnt here.

The nurse runs all sorts of tests on me, like usual. The past twenty minutes have been such a blur. All of a sudden, i yell out, "What is going on?!" This makes the nurse drop what ever she was fiddling with and turn towards me. "You're awake!" She says with a gigantic, almost fake, smile on her face. What is she talking about? It is pretty early for me to be awake, but still, nothing makes sense. Finally, my mother looks at me and says, "Sweetheart, you've been in a coma for 6 months" and tears immediately spring to her eyes. A coma?! I look around quickly as if i were waiting for the walls to give me answers. Suddenly all I want is Gus. I whip out of bed and run out of the room and into the halls.

My father catches up to me and grabs me by the arm. "What are you doing?" he says, angered and confused. Avoiding his question, i ask "Where is Gus?" "Who?!" he asks, "Gus!" i scream in response, "Augustus Waters! I need to see him now! Dad, please help me!" Obviously nervous and confused, he yells for a nurse. At this point, im on the ground crying. A young nurse crouches down and asks me whats wrong. There are so many emotions stirring inside of me, so all i ask is "Where is Augustus Waters?" The nurse looks up at my father, and my mother who has just joined us. They both shrug as tears roll down their faces. I find a new question to ask, "Where is my bracelet?" I don't wait for a response as i sprint down the hall back to my room. i rip off the covers, i pull off the mattress, i search everywhere and i still cant find it. I cant find hope.

Suddenly, everything clicks. There was no Augustus Waters. There was no worn-down and broken swingset. There was no box of unlit ciggarettes. It was just me. Lying here, my parents hoping i would someday wake up. And now i realize, i wish i hadnt.